Have you ever wondered if an Elf on the Shelf is actually a good thing to have? There are probably more pros than cons that you can think of. An Elf could be both good and bad, but let’s figure that out. An Elf on the Shelf is a Christmas tradition that some families observe, where a lookout elf toy is placed in a home to watch over children and report back to Santa Claus.
Let’s start with the pros of having an elf. It brings joy into your family household. For example, every morning, your children wake up and get to see where the elf decides to be that day and what message the elf has sent them. That starts their day off with happiness. It also keeps the children in line, to ensure the kids stay on their best behavior all month long, the elf watches them. It’s artistic; some parents get very creative, and that could be great. There are 24 days of craziness for an Elf to get into before Christmas!
Next, the cons of using an elf. According to Mabel’s Labels, “It’s controversial, many moms struggle with the idea that an elf is watching over their kids, and the encouragement for good behavior all month long is based on make-believe elves.” This states that having an elf can not always be great, because it allows your children to only act right when it’s Christmas time. Once you start, you can never go back. Parents have probably thought things like, What if I forget to move the elf? What if they wake up and see me? The holidays are enough without having to do elf things, so if it stresses you out, do not do it.
After all, Elf on the Shelf’s are fun but a lot to handle. Having to wake up, place the elf in a different spot, make breakfast, get to work, and much more is a ton of work for parents. The website “Thoughtful Parent” says that it doesn’t support positive parenting. This states that positive parenting helps kids understand the meaning and reasoning behind the rules and limits we set. Having an elf is really just another lie people tell their kids.
In conclusion, the Elf on the Shelf is a varied tradition with both its touching benefits and its importance. While it shines at infusing the holiday season with wonder and can be a prompt for positive behavior, parents must also acknowledge potential sources of stress. A family’s experience with the Elf on the Shelf will depend on their approach to combining it into their holiday traditions.
